Still no hours for Market Basket workers

Market Basket executives on Thursday ordered the removal of all protest signs from stores, including those asking customers to boycott the supermarket and others seeking donations for workers.

Jason Schreiber

Market Basket executives on Thursday ordered the removal of all protest signs from stores, including those asking customers to boycott the supermarket and others seeking donations for workers.

In an e-mail to store directors, CEOs Felicia Thornton and James Gooch asked that the signs, posters or any other written material or drawings be taken down unless they relate to product and prices, provide information about store layout or department, or are required to be posted by the government.

They also informed stores that full-time workers should not have their hours cut next week as some had feared.

"We are not laying off full-time associates. You should plan to have your full-time associates work next week, and receive the hours required to maintain their full-time status," the e-mail said.

But that's not the case for part-time help. According to local store managers, the nearly 1,500 part-time Market Basket workers on the Seacoast whose hours were eliminated this week along with thousands of others will remain off the job next week, as they struggle to make payroll as protests continue over the ouster of former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas.

Even with the part-timers out of work, managers said it's impossible to make payroll when business is down more than 90 percent at many stores.

"We would have to cut about 40 (full-time) people to make payroll," said Walter O'Brien, assistant manager of the Epping Market Basket.

Chuck Casassa, manager of the Seabrook Market Basket in the Southgate Plaza, said business has "mostly disappeared."

"Being a tourist area we get a few customers that aren't familiar with the situation or the area," he said.

He remains hopeful that an end to the standoff is near and that Arthur T. Demoulas will prevail.

"We have 200-plus employees out of work (at his store) and my goal would be to get them back to work as soon as possible," he said.

Like other stores, Stratham Market Basket store manager Mark Owens said hours for his full-timers won't be affected next week, but his part-time staff will be out for a second week.

Meanwhile, Market Basket made another plea this week for employees who walked off the job four weeks ago to return by Friday or face losing their jobs.

A company spokesman said approximately 200 employees who work at Market Basket's headquarters in Tewksbury, Mass., and at its distribution centers have failed to show up for work since June 17.

"The company has not taken any action in response to their absence, but is left with no choice but to make this last request. The company will of course follow all applicable laws should these associates choose to abandon their positions," the statement said.

The letter said the company has welcomed workers back without consequences, but that they've "ignored" the offers for them to come back. The walkout began with truck drivers and others at the distribution center who put the brakes on deliveries, causing a massive food shortage at the company's 71 stores.

The letter was sent as Arthur T. continues to pursue his bid to buy the remaining 50.5 percent shares of the company owned by his rival cousin, Arthur S. Demoulas, and his side of the family. The two sides of the Demoulas family have bickered for years, but thousands of workers remain loyal to Arthur T., who was ousted by the company's board controlled by Arthur S. in June.

In the company's statement issued Tuesday, the Market Basket spokesman said salaried exempt employees were paid in advance for July, though many have been absent from work since July 17; all salaried exempt employees who have reported to work, reported to management or have approved vacation have also been paid for August; and non-exempt hourly employees have been paid all hours for which they worked.

For those workers who have had hours cut, New Hampshire Legal Assistance is offering to provide legal help to any Market Basket employees seeking unemployment benefits.

The agency is encouraging workers to apply for unemployment benefits at their local New Hampshire Employment Security/NH Works Office.

For more information about the application process, visit www.nhes.nh.gov or call 224-3311 to locate a local NH Works Office.

Market Basket workers who need legal help with unemployment claims can apply at www.nhlegalaid.org or call the Legal Advice and Referral Center at 224-3333 or (800) 639-5290.

Advertise

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
seacoastonline.com ~ 111 New Hampshire Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service